On a recent flying trip to South Australia to catch up with some fabulous friends, we were spoiled with great food and excellent wines. Our destination, the Barossa Valley, is famous for being home to some of Australia’s longest standing, most famous and top-quality vineyards. We were to discover that the food there is not too dusty either.
The gourmet goodness kept on giving with a quick visit to the Barossa Farmers Market. Yes, we could have spent longer there, sampling the wares and kicking back, listening to the live music, but it was cold and damp – the kind of cold that seeps up through your shoes and freezes your toes. A grab-and-run strategy was adopted by the locals and we thought we would follow suit.
Join me for a brisk visit to this fabulous little market.
What Is The Barossa Farmers Market (BFM)?
- The BFM was established 23 years ago and is 100% community-operated, not-for-profit organisation. We were told that, around 20 years ago, a local major winery donated an old building (the Vintners Shed) and the grounds for the Market’s use in perpetuity. That may be an urban myth and, if it is, it’s a good one. This generosity and good-corporate-citizenship has seen the market flourish, and become a permanent fixture in the region’s food and tourism calendar.
- Inside the shed there are ‘permanent’ stalls with professional display cases including refrigeration cabinets and cooking facilities. You can be confident that whatever you buy is sold in the freshest, tastiest state.
What is on Offer?:
- You name it fresh-produce-wise, you can find at these markets. There are fruit, vegetables, flowers, native trees and plants, cheeses, lots and lots of pork products, salami, smoked fish, macaroons, jerky, dried fruit, fudges, balsamic vinegar, relishes, gyoza dumplings, amazing mushrooms, sour dough bread and crumpets, bagels, honey, olive oil and coffee.
- Some of the stall holders will cook their produce for you while you wait, and I have to say, both the sour dough crumpets and the toasted bagels looked amazing.
- Outside there is a warming fire pit – very popular on this chilly morning – and a small band braving the temperatures and sharing their tunes with us.
Who Visits the Market?
- Locals: This Market looks like a regular haunt for local and semi-local people stocking up on gourmet produce for the week ahead. The sour dough bread stall was very popular and it appeared that many people had pre-ordered their goodies. That was a wise move as this stall had the longest queues and sold out very quickly.
- Tourists: Yes, there were a lot of out-of-towners like us, including many families on the road during school holidays.
- Accessibility: This market – both the shed and surrounding area – are on level ground and are accessible for wheelchairs and prams. Accessible toilets are at the rear of the building.
- Dogs: Dogs are welcome on the grounds, but not in the shed.
- Members: If you live a little closer than we do, join up as a member and enjoy a 10% discount on your shop. They have a Kid’s Club too where children can collect stamps on their Kid’s Club card to receive special treats. Hmm, I wonder if there’s an Adult’s club too?? 😊
When is the Market Held? Every Saturday, 730am-1130am. Yes, you have to be quick!
Where is it? 740 Stockwell Road (Cnr Angaston & Stockwell Roads), Angaston SA 5353
How to Get There?
- As far as I can find out, there is no regular public transport servicing this area.
- Taxi: You could get a taxi from the small towns of Nuriootpa and/or Angaston.
- Walk/Bike: If you don’t mind a walk or a bike ride, the landscape in this area is pretty flat. With an earlyish start, you could make it in time for a breakfast (or second breakfast?) of restorative coffee and delicious egg-and-bacon rolls. The breakfast of champions!
Why Visit?
- For the freshest, tastiest food that reduces food miles and supports small, local growers.
- To be able to talk direct to the grower/producer and find out exactly what it takes to go from their paddock to your plate.
- I am not going to lie, this is a smallish market and certainly not on the same scale as the farmers markets we visited on our walk through France in May this year.
- What is exactly the same is the level of passion and pride displayed by the growers and stallholders. They put their heart, soul and innumerable hours into their wares, and they have every right to be proud of what they do.
- This is only a small market, but a very happy one. Happy customers and happy growers/makers. Win Win.
Yes, all this delicious food was too tempting and I was soon filling my calico shopping bag. I am a sucker for dried fruit and a large bag of dried apricots found its way into my bag. A tray of chocolate-dipped dried fruit followed soon after but I promise you, this was a gift for my folks. Trust me. 😊
With our visit to the Barossa Farmers Market done and dusted, it was time to move onto the next destination on our reunion itinerary – the incomparable Henschke Wines.
Bon appetite everyone.
Are you a fan of farmers markets? What is your top foodie find at the markets?
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Life...one big adventure 
I love going to markets and this one seems so inviting.
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What it lacked in temperature warmth, it made up for with the warm welcome.
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I haven’t had the opportunity to visit South Australia, though it’s on the list. Food markets are a must in every place we visit. Nothing beats getting to know a place better than chatting with a local who produces good food. South Australia is also very scenic.
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Agreed. I love the energy of the producers as they are so committed to what they do and know their industries inside and out. They have to be passionate too as we all know that farming/growing of any kind is a tough gig.
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We’ve been there and done that. Hence, my understanding. More so now as the weather has become predictable in its unpredictability. Then there are the tariffs but I won’t go there 😉
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I’m hearin’ ya! 🙂
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Everything looks marvelous! The rainbow thing…🤔
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🙂 – Yes, the bagel looks a little questionable, but it wasn’t flavoured like it was coloured! 🙂
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Did the chocolates make it to your family? I know Barossa wines very well, but nice to know there’s good food too. Maggie
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Yes, the chocolate-dipped fruit made it to the family in one piece and all accounted for! 🙂 And I am still enjoying my dried apricots. It’s hard to stop at one though. 🙂
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The rainbow bagel looks so good, I’d be intrigued to try it. I used to love going to a local farmers market, just because of the authentic feel it had to it. I still visit markets although it is harder to find a farmers market now.
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Ah, that’s a shame about the lack of markets. Is it because where you live? Or is farming and growing on the decline?
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It could be a bit of both, I’m travelling atm but before then I lived in a fairly big city, there were similar markets, but I don’t think much of the produce was local
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Oh, well. Hopefully you find some nice markets on your travels
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Those mushrooms look amazing – even better lightly sauteed in butter with a touch of garlic! “Cold and damp” – I often forget that Australia gets cold too and isn’t always a “sunburnt country.”
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Ah, well…you know climate change is turning everything on its head. For us it has been a particularly cold Winter…almost back to normal. I would hate to be a Weather Person trying to predict what each week will bring!
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I’m very intrigued by the rainbow-colored… bread? donut? Perhaps you said what it was and I missed it. But it looks tasty!
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It was a bagel and the stall was so popular, they had almost sold out by the time I took a photo. There was a great range of all sorts of sweet and savoury flavours.
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Hmm, the Barossa Farmers Market looks very similar to our farmers markets that are situated between the vineyards here in SA. These markets are usually open all day, so a glass of wine and a variety of small dishes is usually my choice (because I can’t choose between all the yumminess 😁). Now, about that rainbow “something” …
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Who doesn’t love a market? This one looks pretty good to me, though it’s always a shame when you can’t take advantage of one because you aren’t staying in self catering. The locals have it made! I do like a Barossa wine and would love to visit this region one day, if I can pluck up enough enthusiasm to fly again. I’m not sure about the rainbow bagel though. That might be a step too far.
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🙂 – Yes, the rainbow bagel was a step too far for me and I LOVE colour and my tucker! 🙂 The Barossa wine though was fair game!!
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Looks like a great little market. Nice to know for when we are in the Barossa next time.
We have at least one market every weekend somewhere on the Mornington Peninsula and go most weekends. Cheers, Mark
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Unfortunately we only have monthly ones in my home town and they are often swamped by tourists! You have be very strategic and go early if you want to fill your basket! 🙂 Have a good day, Mark
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Sounds like we’re spoilt here. Cheers
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We are farmers market fans, and Barossa looks like a good one. Someday I’d like to do some Barossa Valley winery hopping.
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You would love it over there, especially as most of the wineries are very rural, so lots of kangaroos are hopping by as you sip and swirl. 🙂
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What a wonderful place – I’m definitely a market fan and love sampling all the fresh produce 🙂
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and there’s plants for your garden, Han! 🙂
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Looks like a wonderful market. The oranges! The mushrooms!
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Yes, something for everyone and the mushrooms were extra special.
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